Civil War

Title: From Lewis Stafford to Kate Newland
Description: Lewis Stafford writes a letter from Camp Washington near Clinton, Missouri to Kate Newland on July 6, 1861. Stafford, a member of the 1st Kansas Infantry, Company E, tells Newland that Union troops recently took possession of a printing press that had printed a secession journal. He says that Clinton used to be a “hot bed of secession” but “secession in this place is now pretty generally squelched out.”
Object Type: Letter
Date: July 6, 1861

Title: H.D. Fisher
Description: This ca. 1867 black-and-white photograph depicts Rev. H.D. Fisher in military uniform. Fisher, known as “Parson Fisher,” was a Methodist minister who settled in Lawrence, Kansas, and served as chaplain of the Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.
Object Type: Image

Title: Quarterly Return of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, 1864
Description: This military document is a return of ordnance and ordnance stores for Company "A" 8th Cavalry Regiment Missouri State Militia under command of Captain James J. Akard for the first quarter of 1864.
Date: April 7, 1864

Title: From E.B. Alexander to William Fowler
Description: On September 1, 1863, Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General in St. Louis, writes to Capt. William Fowler, Provost Marshal for the 7th District of Missouri, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Alexander instructs Fowler that deserters from "the Rebel Army" who are drafted will not be forced to serve against the Confederates. Instead, they should be given another military duty or discharged from the service.
Date: September 1, 1863

Title: Oath of Loyalty of George P. Hedrick
Description: This document establishes that George P. Hedrick has taken an oath of loyalty to the United States and to the state of Missouri. Hedrick declares that “I have not, during the present rebellion, willfully taken up arms, or levied war against the United States, nor against the provisional government of the state of Missouri.” The oath is dated October 29, 1862 and is signed by Hedrick and a clerk.
Object Type: Government Document
Date: October 29, 1862

Title: William O. Mead's Appointment to First Sergeant
Description: By the order of Colonel Joseph J. Gravely, David Hunter informs the Missouri State Militia 8th Cavalry Regiment that William O. Mead is appointed to First Sergeant, in Company "A", of the Eighth Regiment of Cavalry, M.S.M..
Date: April 13, 1863

Title: From Daniel R. Anthony to Dear Sister
Description: Daniel R. Anthony writes a letter from Camp “Johnson” in Morristown, Missouri to his sister on December 26, 1861. He tells her that he is in command of the camp and 1500 troops while Col. Jennison is away in Mound City, Missouri. Anthony says that he and three other commanders have occupied a Secessionist soldier’s house and established it as their headquarters. He reports that he expects to stay there for about two months, and then move south.
Object Type: Letter
Date: December 26, 1861

Title: From Joseph H. Trego to Alice Trego
Description: This letter, dated November 7, 1863, is from Lieut. Joseph H. Trego of the 5th Kansas Cavalry Regiment to his wife Alice. He tells her that he recently left Fort Scott, Kansas and travelled to Maysville, Arkansas. He adds that he will be marching to Fort Smith soon and does not expect to run into any danger. He also mentions that Capt. Haskell has been relieved of his duties and is leaving the regiment.
Object Type: Letter
Date: November 7, 1863

Title: Circular No. 21
Description: This document, entitled Circular No. 21, is dated April 18, 1865 and is signed by Col. E.B. Alexander in St. Louis. Since drafting and recruiting have been discontinued, the Circular instructs Provost Marshals to "make every effort" to reduce their office expenses by terminating rental agreements, discharging unnecessary employees, and eliminating business contracts.
Date: April 18, 1865

Title: Leander Harrison
Description: This carte de visite depicts Leander Harrison, who served in Company A, Fifth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. The photograph was produced ca. 1861-1865.
Object Type: Image

Title: From E.B. Alexander to A. Comingo
Description: This letter, dated October 20, 1863, is from Col. E.B. Alexander, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General of Missouri, to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Alexander informs Comingo that the reward for the arrest of military deserters has changed according to recent orders from the War Department.
Date: October 20, 1863

Title: Col. Jas. A. Mulligan
Description: This black-and-white carte de viste depicts Union Col. Jas. A. Mulligan in military uniform. Mulligan served as colonel of the 23rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and commanded the Union forces at the first Battle of Lexington.
Object Type: Image

Title: From John F. Youngs to Jenney and Mother
Description: This letter is from Lt. John F. Youngs, Company E, 5th Regiment, to his family. Youngs writes from camp in Fort Scott, Kansas on September 18, 1861 and gives a detailed account of the Battle of Dry Wood Creek. He describes hiding in a ravine and firing on thousands of advancing troops. Since then, "we have been buisy scouting with an occasional scirmish," and says that an infantry company has gone to "break up a secession camp."
Object Type: Letter
Date: September 18, 1861

Title: From Mary Hall to Venitia Hall
Description: Mary Hall—the original recipient of this envelope—used it in 1863 to write a message to her sister Venitia Colcord Page, who was incarcerated at the Union Jail for Women in Kansas City. “Don’t say one word before anyone,” Mary warns, “The guards say they like you…They say very hard things of the others.” Mary gave the message to Venitia, who was married to Major Page, during a prison visit; Venitia escaped or was released before the prison collapsed in August 1863.
Date: 1863

Title: Inventory of Effects of Deceased Soldiers
Description: This is a copy of a United States Army form used to record the inventory of deceased soldiers' belongings during the Civil War. The unfilled form was prepared for soldiers serving under James A. Akard in Company A, Eighth Regiment of the Missouri State Militia.

Title: From John A. Bushnell to Eugenia Bronaugh
Description: On March 5, 1865, John A. Bushnell writes from Sedalia, Missouri to Eugenia Bronaugh in Hickory Grove, Missouri. John criticizes "those who have no sacred obligations to society," and declares that the United States is a “fallen nation” whose fate lies in “uncontrollable ignominy and disgrace.”
Date: March 5, 1865

Title: Soldier, Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
Description: This sepia carte de visite, ca. 1861-1865, depicts an unidentified soldier who served in the Eleventh Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Carte de visites were small photographs that were often used as calling cards and became very popular during the Civil War.
Object Type: Image

Title: From H.M. Rice to A.C. Miller
Description: On June 9, 1865, H.M. Rice writes from Albany, Missouri to A.C. Miller, Commissioner in Charge, 7th District Missouri. Rice reports that when he attempted to arrest several men guilty of desertion, they fled the area and have not been seen since. He concludes, "I think there is no doubt but what they have gone back to their Regiment."
Date: June 9, 1865

Title: From H.C. Wood to A. Comingo
Description: This dispatch, dated November 18, 1863, is from U.S. Army Capt. H.C. Wood to Capt. A. Comingo, Provost Marshal of the 6th district of Missouri. Wood forwards a message from the Provost Marshal General, stating that when a Deputy or "Special Agent" is sent in pursuit of military deserters, his transportation expenses will be paid whether or not he is successful in apprehending the deserters, as long as he submits the proper paperwork.
Date: November 18, 1863

Title: List of Stores Expended, 1863
Description: This military document is a list of items expended by the Head Quarters District of the Border in Kansas City, Missouri while conducting court martials during the last seven months of 1863.
Date: December 31, 1863

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865

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